Watch NY Mets LaTroy Hawkins Take a Hard Shot Off the Nuggets (GIFs)

“It was a direct hit—no cup. When I lifted my leg, I could feel my balls in my throat.” – LaTroy Hawkins

If there’s one thing that sucks worse than playing for the Mets, it’s playing for the Mets and getting hammered in the junk by a one-hopper. That’s exactly what happened to MLB journeyman LaTroy Hawkins last night against the red-hot Los Angeles Dodgers.

Actually, not all professional baseball players wear protection. This is especially true of pitchers. Protective cups are awkward during the repeated pitching motion, so many pitchers elect to keep their boys high and tight, but with nothing shielding them from an unexpected attack.

Not wanting to leave the game after getting hammered in the soft spot, Hawkins suggested to manager Terry Collins that he could work through it. As you’d suspect, he gave up a game-tying home run to the very next batter. It looked like this.

Poor LaTroy. As the ball left the stadium, I imagine him thinking, “Man, my nuts hurt.”

Here’s what Hawkins had to tweet after the game.

#NoBueno DIRECT HIT Did not get any glove on the ball!!! long bus ride to SD #ICE#Mets#LGM Not a good feeling